How to Train a Dog

18/07/2024

Living with a dog? You don’t know the half of it if you are unaware of the subtleties of canine body language.

16/06/2024

This is not a cute image.
Children aged 0 to 4 are the highest risk age group for serious dog attack injuries requiring hospital treatment.
7 out of 10 of these dog bite injuries requiring hospital treatment happen in the child’s own home or at a family member or friend’s house. This strongly suggests that the children are being bitten by their own dog or a dog they know…we need to be proactive in teaching kids how to behave around dogs.

Let's talk about this photo. It's cute, except it's not. I see a dog who cannot get up without telling the child to get off. How do you think a dog is going to do that?

The 7 Golden Toddler Dog Rules:
#1: If a dog walks away from you, you DO NOT FOLLOW.
#2: Always leave room for the dog to walk away from you.
---that right there is 90+% of dog bites eliminated---
#3: We do not climb on the dog.
#4: We do not grab or pull on the dog.
#5: We do not hit or throw anything at the dog.
#6: We do not touch the dog's food.
#7: We do not go into the dog's kennel.

I promise these are not overly difficult concepts for littles, nor will they rob a kid of their bond with the family dog. It will deepen that bond, while keeping everyone safe.

"Oh, it looks like Moose is walking away from you. She is saying she wants a break. Let's play with this instead!"

"It's Moose's dinner time! Let's give her space to enjoy her yummies."

"That is Moose's room(kennel) and only she is allowed to go in there."

"If Moose wanted a break, could she walk away from you right now? No she really couldn't. Let's move away from the play house. You can keep playing but now she can leave when she wants a break."

In conclusion, ***parent your child or your dog will do it for you, and you will not like how they do it.***

21/04/2024

Snuffle mats at Aldi!

13/04/2024

This…

𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

What do you understand that phrase to mean?

When I ask this question the response is often that it’s a positive term suggesting a balance between learning and play, or taking all of a dog's needs into consideration. Which perhaps isn't surprising since 'balance' generally has positive connotations - 'balanced diet', 'work life balance' etc

𝗛𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿....
..what it actually means is training which uses both positive reinforcement and punishment. Usually physical punishment and usually using tools which cause pain or discomfort like slip leads, choke chains, prong collars & e-collars, and positive reinforcement.

The term sounds innocuous, even benign. But it is a euphemism for the use of force & physical punishment; a way to make what the public might find unpalatable sound more ‘consumer friendly’.

So, the next time you see someone described (or describe themselves) as a 'balanced trainer' keep in mind what it really means and ask yourself if that’s what your dog deserves.

23/03/2024

Having a dog in your house is a lot of work, and many first-time dog guardians struggle in those early weeks and months. It takes time to settle into an easy rhythm, and it takes time to train your dog how to behave.

What first time dog guardians need to know about dog training to get better results and build their relationship with their dog.

21/03/2024

Just a reminder for those with sensitive pets, it’s gonna be a bit of a noisy weekend- by land and air!

19/02/2024

Have you considered the link between your dog’s gut health and their behaviour?

Benefits for the whole dog Advertisements touting the benefits of probiotics are plentiful claim that they are a cornerstone of preventative care. Probiotics boost the healthy gut bacteria that help digest food. They are a well-known therapy for diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset. More recently, th...

03/02/2024

Whilst this post is referring to the USA, unfortunately the same concerns exist in Australia. I believe regulation is a long time coming. So yes, please do your research very carefully when choosing a trainer, or a groomer, a walker, a day care, or vet. It’s not always possible to undo the damage caused by aversive methods.

29/01/2024

Perfect spot for some expert puppy time!

Humane dog training, walking & pet care in the east of Naarm/Melbourne

- PPGA/APDT (student member)

22/01/2024

Did you know that tail wagging is an asymmetric behavior? Often if there’s something a dog encounters that it wants to approach, it wags more to the right side of its body, whereas if there’s something it wants to withdraw from, it wags to the left side of its body. Dogs can perceive those asymmetries in other dogs.
.com.au

A review of scientific studies challenges some common assumptions

12/01/2024

A dog’s nose is estimated to be 100,000 to 100 million times more sensitive than a human nose (depending on the dog breed). A much larger proportion (seven to 40 times larger) of the dog’s brain is dedicated to decoding scent. Do you cater to your dog’s olfactory abilities? Many family dogs are under stimulated mentally. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise. Get on it!

Conservation dogs perform vital roles across Australia. Some are guardians protecting wildlife from predators while others put their powerful sense of smell to use as sniffer dogs or detection dogs.

09/12/2023

Congratulations! Latest MindDog graduates passing their public access test with flying colours - you guys rock! That 12 months flew by. Go Ruby!

27/11/2023

Cats and dogs can be great buddies.....

Flynn, the poodle mix, was rehomed as a young adolescent. We've come a long way from his early days of struggling with being alone and finding walks overstimulating!
About 2 months ago, a 10 month old Kitten named George came to stay. We had discussed this possibility towards the end of our training program and talked about what to look for and how best to manage those early days. After some initial over-enthusiastic playing, Flynn has settled down.
If you bring a cat into a home that isn’t used to cohabitating with dogs, you could get a lot of avoidance and flight behaviour from the cat, which can trigger a dog to chase. George was fostered in a home with a golden retriever and has always been fairly chill around Flynn.
Cats and dogs can be great friends, but their ability to get along depends on each animal’s personality, the circumstances around their introduction, and the way pet owners manage their shared environment.

15/11/2023

Latest update from Toki, MindDog trainee, showing us how to navigate a staircase - staying close and connected with her human. These guys are soon to sit for the Public Access Test with MindDog Australia. So proud of their progress. 🤗

04/11/2023

Wishing this had been available sooner. What a great initiative! Ready Vet Go - Pet Ambulance & Mobile Urgent Care

26/10/2023

Another MindDog trainee pulling out all the stops as we approach the time for their Public Access Test. Here we are today working on settling on the bus, for the first time ever - and she nailed it!
.com.au

25/10/2023

Flirt sticks are a great dog toy, especially for dogs with a high prey drive/impulse control difficulties who like to chase critters! Why not contact me now for a private session to try one of these great training tools out? Learn about what a flirt pole is and how to use one safely with your dog.
Here’s Mabel in action, demonstrating much calmer responses than when she’s on a game of fetch!

20/10/2023

Helped out with the Pet Professional Guild Australia at this year’s Vet Expo with Angela HT from K9 Nose Fun. Some good conversations were had with some of the many attending this year - and way too many lollies!

16/10/2023

A day after our first training session and 16 week old Westie Tanuki has already worked out how cool it is to settle on his new bed in the living area.
A mat can be a great tool to provide a predictable place to settle, not related to bedtime.
dog

06/10/2023

WARNING: BIRCH SUGAR = XYLITOL : TOXIC

Labeled as “xylitol” within an ingredients list, the same plant-derived substance can also be identified as “birch sugar” in others.

05/10/2023

Community gathering this Sunday for you and your furries!

03/10/2023

Hello Pup's next puppy class starts Monday 16 October, Elwood Scout Hall. Don't miss out!

28/09/2023

27/09/2023

Here’s Beenie and Angela demonstrating scent work at the Royal Melbourne Show. ‘Nose Work® is the FUN new search and scenting activity suitable for nearly ALL dogs and their people. It is easy to learn, and helps build confidence and focus in many dogs. It is a safe way to keep dogs mentally and physically fit, no matter their ability. It is ideal for shy or reactive dogs, because only one dog works at a time, while any other dogs are kept out of the working area.’

25/09/2023

About to bring home a puppy? Here’s how to get through the emotional ups and downs of those early weeks of external environmental exposure and why they could be happening.

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20/09/2023

It is a sad state of affairs for our pets when we are still having difficulty with the powers that be in protecting them from people displaying such blatant abuse.